Bongani Khumalo opened the scored for Bafana

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South Africa out of World Cup

South Africa seemed on course for miraculous progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup but ultimately missed out after a 2-1 victory over France.

Bongani Khumalo gave Bafana Bafana the lead against the run of play, and when Yoann Gourcuff was harshly dismissed midway through the first period the hosts smelled history.

The impressive Katlego Mphela struck before the break, but chances were missed and when Florent Malouda pulled a goal back for their guests, South Africa’s dream was effectively ended.

France started the match not cutting the kind of shape that one might expect of a team in disarray, though they were hardly playing with the fizz that might be anticipated of such a star-studded unit.

A clever pass from Gourcuff, one of six new faces in les Bleus’ starting XI, created an early chance for another newcomer, Andre-Pierre Gignac, though the Toulouse striker finished tamely when well placed in the box after just three minutes.

The Europeans continued to push on, but the best they could manage in their early spell was a headed flick from Djibril Cisse from the edge of the penalty box.

With the passing of the 15 minute mark, Bafana started to push away from their penalty box and offer some threat of their own.

Having not truly threatened in the early stages, the World Cup hosts grabbed the advantage when Hugo Lloris got nowhere near a corner kick, allowing Khumalo to out-jump Abou Diaby to head home.

Although Gignac quickly offered a shot over the bar as a reply from the French, South Africa looked at ease with their lead and were then given a big helping hand by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz.

Gourcuff leapt for a high ball in the South Africa penalty box and innocuously hit MacBeth Sibaya in the face. Though there was undoubtedly contact, it seemed clear that there was no intent in the midfielder’s action.

Given the circumstances, it was little surprise France grew a little ragged against a fantastically hungry home side. With the crowd right behind their favourites, South Africa found a second goal before the break.

Siphiwe Tshabalala worked his way in down the left impressively, and when he fired into a dangerous area, Mphela scrambled the ball over the line.

Bernard Parker soon had the ball in Lloris’ net once again, but he was correctly ruled offside.

A Franck Ribery free kick at the other end of the field forced Moeneeb Josephs to turn the bouncing ball over his crossbar, though William Gallas might have struck had he made contact with the accurate centre.

Bafana were dominating, and they nearly had a precious third goal when Mphela’s angled drive was touched wide for a corner kick.

Needing goals, it was little surprise to see South Africa bright and breezy after the half-time interval. Bernard Parker shot into the midriff of Lloris before a terrific pass from Siphiwe Tshabalala released Mphela.

With his first touch, the Mamelodi Sundowns striker swept the ball over Lloris but against the outside of the post.

Just before the hour mark, Mphela tried his luck from range, but Lloris dived to his right to make a commendable save.

France were not totally impotent. Ribery shot over when he should have instead passed to substitute Thierry Henry, who replaced Cisse, who himself had a snapshot go narrowly over just after the interval.

Such forays were rare, whereas the sight of Mphela running purposefully at the French defence was not.

The striker snuck in down the right channel next, but Lloris made the block when the angle was very much against the Bafana attacker.

Against the run of play, Malouda stuck a dagger in South Africa’s challenge, silencing even the vuvuzelas.

Good play in the heart of the midfield from Abou Diaby released Ribery down the right channel, and the Bayern Munich man defeated the advancing Josephs with a neat square pass to his Chelsea-based team-mate, who simply couldn’t miss.

This goal seemed to take the sting out of the game, though both coaches were still attempting to shape their sides into increasingly attacking formations.

Bafana’s attacks lacked the purpose they once boasted and there would be no late miracle, with Tshabalala superbly denied by Lloris.

South Africa exit the tournament as the first host nation to fail to progress by the group stages, but at least they leave with their heads held high, which certainly cannot be said of Raymond Domenech’s men.

Previous comments on this story...

Had we left out that Teko guy these 2 past games, we would have qualified long time ago to the 2nd round....Stupid Pitso and Parreira!!!! Go boys make yourselves proud....STEVIE P....YOUR ARE MY STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

tk.

posted: 05:01 pm

who needs teko?

stan'Lee

posted: 05:04 pm

Go on boys.....Roar on!!!
Yes you can make it.....

Goals all thru.....
We stand by you!!!!

VIVA SA!!!

Kideo007

posted: 05:08 pm

Bafana Bafana Kao Fela!!! Siyabangena!!!

Anonymous

posted: 05:52 pm

It looks like the dream is indeed over, what is left of us is to support the World Cup as we are the hosts, our boys are full of promises but they always never deliver... As long as we have strikers who misses easy chances such as Mphela did at all the games, miedfilders who thinks they are the best thing ever happened to south african football such as Modise, defenders such as Captain Mokoena who actually plays as miedfilder we are doomed.... Tshabalala who when is time to pass the ball he shoots and be off target..

Back to the drawing board SA, hopefully Pitso has learned a lot from all these foreign useless coaches..

The less said about SAFA the better..

Anonymous

posted: 06:02 pm

Gud performance by de boys though 2 little 2 late. M proud of de boys inspite of persimistic comments by de likes of tk. Teko, u r still de best mfana...pls don't despair.

This is no time 2 point fingers.

tk.

posted: 06:02 pm

so near yet so far. sad indeed but good effort. hope doubting tomases have seen what a bafana without a teko is capable of and a big thanks to the fans for booing him when he came on hope he learns his lessons. if this was colombia, who knows what would have happened to him? lots of love for bafana.

walle22

posted: 06:06 pm

My brothers you don't have dream what you cant get, even if France is reduced to 7 man SA will not score them up to 5 goals, we know their ability and what they can do, how can you have good league, they pay you very well, also home support but you can even do one good thing, that is the evidence of no capable to qualify in the CAN and also if not host country SA would have not even smell the world cup, so go now and sit down and watch other country enjoy all this your new facilities, that is football for you, you cant eat your cake and have it, GOODBYE SA SEE YOU IN CAN QUALIFICATION.

walle22

posted: 06:07 pm

Also do not jubilee this victory France is not organized if it was the real France, i don't know what will happen today.

Tolly-ba-Thathe : 2010-06-22 18:02
i wouldn't say persimistic, i would prefer being realistic. if you can't handle the truth sorry my broer. don't get me wrong broer, i dig bafana big time, it is just that i am not wearing blinkers. mphela should have scored more than one goal, gaxa has been a dissapointment. ngcongca, masilela, khuboni, sibaya were outstanding. teko is a good player but he head is so swollen that he will fall and never rise again unless somebody speaks some sense to him.

LeKhosi

posted: 06:19 pm

The guys tried their best, I am glad they went out with a good perfomance.
Guys we were in a tough group, we must just focus and prepare for the African Cup of Nations.

And to masepa a batho batlang mo and talk shit about team tsebe tsa bo mmalona.

Anonymous

posted: 06:22 pm

we had one man advantage,bt we kept 2 defensive midfielders 4 far too long,@worse we took a striker who was promisin 4 another striker...i gues al parreria wanted was jst a win irrespective of whether we qualify or not...i hope he takes his fleight back 2 brasil by 2mrw morning.

Anonymous

posted: 06:25 pm

Aaron Mokoena cost us the game....once again!
why the hell did he let Malouda score...he was meant to have stayed with his man, instead of ball watching....
Mphela is one for the future...but at the moment, he seem to need about 6 clear chances to score a goal. He must ask Foelan....who only need half a chance to tuck a goal in!!
Khumalo needs a good central defender to push him foward...Aaron Mokoena is bad influence, full-stop!!
Teko Modise is rubbish...he seems to be liked by a couple of fool and Pitso Mosimane...the boy is finished!!
Bafana selection should be based on both form and enough game time!!!
time to build for 2014......Brasil, here we come!!

walle22

posted: 06:27 pm

this same referrer that blow Nigeria match also gave red card to a French player i think the hand of goal of Henry that qualify France to the world cup is really after then that is the pay back of qualifying through back door.

truth hurts

posted: 06:32 pm

They really played good but went to sleep second half.
Bafana needs skillful and talented players though.

walle22

posted: 06:34 pm

soegs: please are sure you will qualify for Brazil 2014 look wester Africans are still dominating in Africa football SA could not win small Sierra Leone where will they pass and go to 2014, please SA should stop giving those big money to those players they do not merit such fund, allow them to travel out to other African country especially west let them try to put them self in the league there even they earn pea nut it will calm them down, big money make players think they are on top of the world. if possible in your leave sign more foreign players and make them fight for shirt in there father land you will see them sit up and fight, football is heart not mouth or talking to the press.

Kideo007

posted: 06:37 pm

We bowed out with some respect. Next time to our boys.

Anonymous

posted: 06:37 pm

SAFA must appoint a new BB coach tomorrow and start to prepare for BRAZIL 2014 by thursday.

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